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A young girl, brought up amidst all the luxuries of a wealthy city home, saw fit to change the conventionalities of life for the lot of a poor man's wife, and the scant comforts of a settler's home. "Give me boards, barrels, hammer, and nails," said she, "and I can furnish a house, and comfortably too." And so she could; and, in case any of our young readers should follow her example in the former particular, we will give them a few hints how they may do so in the latter.

A very comfortable, though somewhat original, chair may be made from a barrel. Saw away half the front, leave the back its full height, and, with the aid of the saw, form the sides into arms. Then fix the seat of wood; place on that a thick, well-filled cushion, with raised sides; pad the back and arms; and cover all with chintz or moreen. Ottomans and settees, of various sizes and shapes, may be made of boxes with cushions on them, and full curtains of furniture chintz hanging round the sides. The interiors of such boxes are very convenient, where the rooms are too small to accommodate wardrobes, or chests of drawers.

A washstand may also be improvised from a cask. Fix a square or octagon-shaped board on the top of a barrel, nail round it a curtain to hang down to the floor, and cut in it a circular hole for the basin. Take away some of the staves of the barrel in front, under the curtain, and fix a shelf half way up, which may be made very useful.

These may seem rough means of securing the necessaries of life, but the daily increasing settlement of our distant territories may render them acceptable to many. Pretty imitation vases may be made of card, painted, and left without a bottom, so that they may be set over a glass of flowers. Picture-frames are also easily cut from paste-board, covered with pine cones, glued on and varnished. Thus a neat and pretty home may be prepared.

The effect of flowers also should not be overlooked. These have an infinite charm in themselves, either in the graceful grouping of the bouquet and moss-basket, or in the pretty arrangement of trailing vines and growing plants, placed either upon wire or rustic stands.

We are glad to notice an increase of the foreign custom of vines trained over the doors of the vestibules of many of our houses: it has an agreeable and pleasing effect.

Bright autumn leaves, mingled with ferns, pressed and varnished, make also a very pretty decoration for mantle vases, and, with light and careful dusting, will retain their beauty through a whole winter. Dried grasses may also be mixed to add to the effect.

A bouquet of skeleton flowers is a pretty addition to a room, and shows the taste of its occupants, as well as their patience; for it requires neat and careful work.

But those who would thus beautify their houses externally must remember that such adornment can be of little

avail unless accompanied by the gentle courtesies and amenities of social life, which lend such a sweet charm to daily intercourse.

Many persons seem to consider that the fact of their being "at home" absolves them from all necessity of keeping up the social forms of politeness and good breeding. It cannot be too strongly impressed upon the mind that mutual respect is the basis of true affection. We would, therefore, earnestly urge upon every one the importance of avoiding disrespectful titles in the home, as tending to lesson proper esteem and reverence.

It may seem a light matter in the domestic circle, whether this or that mode of speech is adopted; but it is far from being so in reality.

I refer, in the first place, to a custom which some married ladies have of calling their husband by their surnames simply, without prefix of any sort. Children and servants are greatly influenced by outward demeanor; and the wife who permits herself to address her husband in a manner unbecoming his high standing as the head of his house goes far towards lessening him in the opinion of his family.

A habit which is to be even more strongly condemned is that of children's applying the term, "the old people," to their parents, or of boys thinking it manly to call their father "the governor." All these modes of expression blunt the fine edge of filial respect and affection, and should be strictly avoided. They are, moreover, in very

bad taste, and show a lack of the highest breeding. In our country, where the resident of a log-cabin may become the resident of the "White House" at some future day, these matters should be considered on every ground; and a fitness for good society may be as easily learned in a log-hut as in a palace.

Equally undesirable is a custom adopted by some married people of bantering one another before their children. They do not consider the effect which such trifling produces. The husband, who gives a ridiculous name to his wife, and raises a laugh at her expense, lowers himself by so doing, by lessening the respect entertained for him.

The courtesies of life are nowhere of greater importance than in the home-circle. Brothers and sisters should extend, at least an equal share of politeness and consideration to each other with that they bestow upon strangers; yet do we always find such to be the case? Why should they not be as thoughtful to please, and as anxious to avoid what annoys and perplexes, at home as they would be abroad?

If any one's true character is to be ascertained, let us study him in his home. If he stands that test, we may be sure that he will never betray any confidence we may repose in him.

Good-breeding, however, consists in much more than not being ill-bred. To fulfil all the laws of etiquette, to bow gracefully, to have finished manners, will not be

sufficient. If you desire to obtain the good-will and affection of your acquaintances, you must seek to render yourself actively agreeable.

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Study to give pleasure, by consulting the tastes and inclinations of your friends, and gratifying them, so far as it may be in your power. These little acts of kindness will serve to endear you, and will linger long and lovingly in the memories of those in whose behalf they have been exercised.

IV. SOCIETY.

Man, in society, is like a flower

Blown in its native bud. 'Tis there alone

His faculties, expanded in full bloom,

Shine out; there only reach their proper use.

Cowper's Task.

_OOD society, in all Christian countries, is the meet

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ing on a footing of equality, and for the purpose of mutual entertainment, of men, or women, or men and women together, of good character, good education, and good breeding.

But what is the real spirit of the observances which this society requires of its frequenters for the preservation of harmony, and the easy intercourse of all of them? Certainly, one may have a spotless reputation, a good education, and good breeding, without being either good in reality, or a Christian.

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